This Fall, Cooper Robertson launches a new initiative focused on issues of Diversity and Inclusivity. The Initiative is aimed to promote different voices, ideas, and engage in meaningful conversations. Organized by both internal and external objectives and strategies, this initiative hopes to move towards a more open, equitable field and workplace.

Cooper Robertson Talk Series

This Initiative will kick off with a talk series that explores specific conversations of diversity and inclusivity as they relate to three of Cooper Robertson fields of expertise: art museums, education, and urban design. Our knowledgeable partners working in these fields are doing amazing work in regards to diversity and inclusion. Learning from leaders in these fields will enhance our role as informed, thoughtful designers. We have much to learn from one another, and amplifying diverse voices that work with us will move us towards a more equitable future.

We were honored to have Sanjive Vaidya, Department Chair at New York City College of Technology (NYCCT), as our first speaker of the Diversity Initiative Talk series. Sanjive spoke on how students of the built environment can be drawn into opportunities to apply their technical skills and urban experience towards the service of their own communities.

Our next talk: Museum Education Panel

As art museums have increasingly become spaces of community engagement and learning, educators are approaching issues of Diversity and Inclusivity in a variety of ways. The Museum Education Panel is an opportunity for different educators to share how they are tackling these issues and to see how their peers are reaching out to their communities in the pursuit of being public-serving institutions dedicated to the enhancement of conversations and knowledge.